The LINKS project aimed to equip European youth workers with advanced digital sovereignty and security skills, addressing the gaps in their digital literacy and security awareness, and helping them control and evaluate the use of their and others’ digital data and history, such as organizations, NGOs, and groups that are supported by these organizations (migrants, refugees, unemployed youth), against misuse, and cyber-attacks. Some additional objectives are: - Increased self-awareness and critical thinking relating to the use of digital devices and the forms of digital communication - Understanding and awareness of the effective application of digital security measures in day-to-day work and specific situations - Youth workers’ personal development management and transversal skills - Self-reflection and ownership of personal and professional development - Interest in wider digital security issues and concerns at national and European level - Understanding of the problem-solving process that can be applied to digital security concerns - Knowledge of the effects of digital security cause, and consequences at local, regional, national, and European levels - Confidence to be able to address potential digital security threats.
Digital sovereignty is a new concept in the digital era suggesting that parties should have sovereignty over their digital data. Personal data is the new crude asset for which a complex ecosystem has been established to collect, analyze, and trade its value. However, the data economy along with the digital transformation raised several major concerns: - The data offered in the context of the data economy are personal and sensitive. - The risk of discrimination resulting in data processing and the risk of undermining the foundations of democracy. - The security concerns caused by cyber threats linked to privacy issues. Regarding youth workers and their activities, digital sovereignty and data protection are even more important. Due to the nature of their work, youth workers have access to and process data and sensitive personal information. This is exactly where the LINKS project aimed to develop a new innovative form of training content along with an online platform, that has empowered youth workers throughout Europe to develop and enhance their digital sovereignty and digital security skills as well as to enrich their portfolio with relevant training materials for teaching others on digital security topics.